My Top 10 Beauty Discoveries of the Year

January 12, 2016

10 Favorite Beauty Discoveries of 2015

I try so many products and treatments in the beauty category over the course of a year for this blog. Some really rise to the top, some never get tried, some get pitched and plenty get covered in posts here. But in thinking about what I really, really loved this past year there are 10 items that rise to the top. Today, I’m sharing them with all of you!

T3 Tools

As someone who curls their hair regularly, the T3 Convertible Styling Wand is a god-send. It features inter-changable wands (3 in total) which I’d file under: Genius Ideas. It means I can change the look of my curls just by swapping out the barrel size. This wand also heats up super fast, has a ceramic barrel that helps to minimize frizz and you can adjust the heat settings. It’s basically everything I’ve ever wanted in a curling iron and since using it for the past few months I am obsessed. I literally recommend it to all my girlfriends. Another T3 tool I love is their Featherweight Luxe dryer. I had a pinched nerve last summer for over six weeks so having a lightweight drier is important to me and man does this thing work! I have thicker hair that can be a pain to dry but this hair dryer makes it so much easier and faster (it is engineered to do so and it doesn’t lie!)

Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayons

I first mentioned these lip pencils in this post but they hands down one of the best things I discovered last year. They don’t smudge, have excellent color options and I love the matte look they give. I have “Brandy” (so good that two of my friends have bought it already) and “Fraise” and seriously wish I could justify the whole color collection. They are also moisturizing when you apply them which I find particularly important given this time of year has me fighting chapped lips on the reg.

One Love Organics

I had heard about One Love Organics for years but it was Grace’s praise of the products that finally had me wanting to give them a go. And man, they are so great. I’ve been starting every morning with this caffeinated serum that tightens and firms and makes your skin feel ready to seize the day (no seriously, this is how I feel after I put this on haha!) And this wonder balm is the bomb. Use it on extra dry skin, to remove makeup and soften skin overall. You can use it on dry elbows, rough patches and more. Finally this body polish smells incredible and used in the shower it makes your skin so soft and luminous.

Stila Huge Extreme Mascara

Want volume and major length? This Stila Huge Extreme Mascara needs to be your new mascara. The reasons I love it is because it keeps your lashes really soft and the formula is super dark black. Goes on easily and will leave you with major lashes that are noticeable in all the right ways.

Oribe Dry Conditioner Spray

The Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray has been my #1 beauty product for years so when I learned that there was a sister product, the Dry Conditioner Spray, I had to try it out. Use this spray as a last step once your hair has been styled and it is infused with a bunch of nourishing oils and proteins to give your hair instant softness and shine. You can also use it on dry, unwashed hair to revive it. Think of it as your dry shampoo’s BFF.

Cynthia Rowley Bronze Stick

I’m still learning how to nail the contouring look but let me tell you – this Bronzer Stick makes it seem all the more possible. I use the stick (which comes in a duo pack with a really pretty pink to use on the apples of your cheeks) starting near my ear lobe and dry it in towards the center of my face about half way. The finish is rather sheer but you’ll want to blend what you’ve applied either with your fingers or my preferred method, with a beautyblender.

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Pencil

“Finally” is what I exclaimed when I was introduced to these babies. These creamy, waterproof, demi-matte eye pencils are specifically designed for gliding along the inner rim of the waterline of your eye. I have them in several colors and I love the green and blue in particular. They stay put and really make your eyes pop (especially if you don’t wear eyeliner on your lower lash line like me.)

Clarins ‘Instant Light’ Radiance Boosting Complexion Base

I had this Clarins Instant Light product for months before I finally used it and WOW. Now I don’t go a day without it. Put it on your cheeks to instantly add radiance while hydrating, soothing and brightening. It comes in two shades and will give you that desirable smooth, lit-from-within look. I put it on under tinted moisturize or foundation and swear that I have gotten so many more compliments on my skin since I started using it.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

I’ve long been a fan of the Urban Decay Naked palettes (One and Two are my favorites) but the Basics palette couldn’t be more ideal for travel. It is all the shades you need to go from day to night and comes in a handy, compact and lightweight palette that you can easily tote around. Even when I’m not on the road I generally use this palette for an everyday neutral matte eye look.

Dry Cleansing

This last one isn’t a product but rather a beauty methodology that I started in 2015 and I’ll tell you…I’m never going back to washing my face with water. My skin has benefited so much from dry cleansing. For those unaware, dry cleansing is putting your cleanser on your face without first wetting your face. My skin has gotten cleaner, healthier and all around more radiant since adopting this method of cleansing and I now swear by it. More on facial cleansing best practices.

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comments +

  1. Love this post! Question… when you use the wand…. do you burn your hand?! I’m so scared to try!

    • Meghan says:

      One isolated incident of distraction but other than that smooth sailing and I think wands are LIFE CHANGING! They make the process so fast. I’ve been using a wand for about 4 years and the interchangable T3 one makes it so nice since you can change the look of your curls by swapping out the barrel size. I am available for wand lessons for you 🙂

  2. Merritt Beck says:

    Love reading about must-have beauty products!!

    xx
    Merritt
    The Style Scribe

  3. Michèle says:

    ok now I definitely have to check out a few of these
    http://www.thefashionfraction.com

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